Int'l Red Cross teams to reach isolated villages
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies started airlifting special relief teams by helicopter to isolated villages in NWFP.
The operation was started with an aim to provide basic necessities to the vulnerable and remote communities affected by the devastating earthquake. It was carried out in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) and the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS).
The International Federation is conducting the relief effort on the ground while the UN provides logistical support.
"This is an innovative way for the Red Cross Red Crescent teams to work in cooperation with UN agencies and the IOM to rapidly assess needs and distribute basic necessities in the affected areas which desperately need assistance," said John English, the Federation's relief coordinator in Islamabad.
Altogether, four groups - three Red Cross Red Crescent teams made up of members from the Pakistan Red Crescent and from South East Asia Regional Disaster Response Teams and one team from the IOM - will be transported by UN helicopters to villages inaccessible by road to carry out rapid aid distribution and assessment missions before these areas are cut off by winter weather later this month.
Two Red Cross Red Crescent teams are already on the ground in Kaghan Valley, in the remote villages of Kahari and Sholgran which still remain cut off due to landslides. After landing, the teams immediately carried out house-to-house assessments in the devastated areas to identify\ urgent needs.
As a result, tarpaulins, blankets and tool kits as well as community tents will be flown in by helicopter tomorrow and distributed to some 300 families.
The teams are self-sufficient for food and accommodation and will stay up to two days at a time to gather information and provide necessary aid.
The teams stay in regular satellite phone contact with their base to ensure their security and coordinate the delivery of vitally-needed supplies. Each team has female and male volunteers to ensure adequate communication with all vulnerable groups. This new operation complements the ongoing relief distributions and health services already being delivered to earthquake survivors by the Red Cross Red Crescent in Pakistan.
To date, more than 1,600 tonnes of relief goods, medical supplies and emergency response equipment have reached affected Some 9,000 tents and 60,000 blankets have been distributed in villages around Balakot, Garhi Habibullah and Batagram.